The X-E1 is my first camera with an EVF (electronic viewfinder). My first impression was: slow. (Notice I said was.) DPReview uses the word “laggy” in their review. I’ll call it slow. At first this bothered me as I’m use to having a DSLR camera in my hand where I can pull the camera up to my eye as I turn it on. Once it’s at my eye I can shoot immediately. This is not true of the EVF or LCD on the X-E1. I must wait a second or two for them to settle in. As I’ve gained more familiarity with the camera I’ve come to appreciate this. It has shown me a trait of looking through the viewfinder too quickly. Now, when I’m turning on the camera and raising it up to my eye I’m taking more time. This allows me to continue to look at the whole scene and not just what the viewfinder allows. So, even though the EVF is slower than an optical viewfinder it may help me be a better observer and to anticipate a scene about to appear.
I’ve been using a G12 for a couple of years now for my travels. It has an optical viewfinder but I use the LCD 99% of the time.This was mainly due to the usefulness of the information I was able to use on the LCD that was not in the viewfinder. The electronic viewfinder on this X-E1 will display the same shooting information as it shows on the LCD. Cool! I’ve also come to check out the exposure compensation meter on the lower left corner of the viewfinder as moving the exposure compensation dial on top is quite easy to move.
Who are those strange characters in the above image? Using your imaginations you can see some of our blogging friends, or yourself, hiding behind the goggles. 🙂
9 Comments
Tom Dills
Looks like you’ve found some new friends, Monty. And friends that don’t talk too much or bother you while you’re photographing.
Interesting take on the EVF. I always assumed that it had something to do with the image stabilization. It might just be all that electronical stuff in there. But if it causes you to slow down just a tick, that might be a new “feature” for us slower folks.
Monte Stevens
I figured you’d know a couple of them. 🙂 It really has caused me to slow down and look more. We’ll see if that can make a difference in what I see and capture. I also have the cleaning option set to come on when I turn it on which probably takes a bit of time. In fact I should turn that off and see if makes a difference.
Tom Dills
Sorry that SwiftKey doesn’t know how to spell Monte, even after I typed it correctly.
Chris Klug
There is a rhythm to the X-series. Recently I had the opportunity to hold and use the GX7 and the Olympus OMD and latest Pen.
Indeed, they focus much quicker. I was surprised especially by the Panasonic; very quick.
I still don’t like the feeling of the OMD; the day I decided on my X-Pro I held both, and the X-Pro felt like a ‘real’ camera, while the OMD felt like a toy. I really didn’t like it.
In my test this week, I did like the Pen with the new Olympus viewfinder; that part was marvelous and it felt pretty good. The Panny was also nice.
But the feel of the X-Pro still makes me happy. I’ve moved to a method where I manually focus my film lenses with an adapter, using zone focus on the street, so I’m not relying on the X-Pro’s focus system. While that might be cheating, I love everything else about the camera except the focus system. Hopefully the next rev will focus quicker.
Monte Stevens
I’ve not held any of those cameras, nor had I held a X-E1 before ordering it. I would assume the X-Pro1 is much heavier than mine even though I think both have metal bodies. My understanding is the X-E2 does have a fast focus system. But I become a better photographer from practicing the craft with the tools I have.
Mark
I’d say the one in front with the tilted glasses looks a bit like Paul. 😉
Great take on the EVF – I noticed something similar in using my X100 but I quickly forget about it after awhile in using it. Hope you enjoy the new toy!
Monte Stevens
Good eye, Mark! 🙂 I think we adjust to our tools. Wish man felt like that with nature.
Cedric Canard
Perhaps these guys are the minions from the movie “Despicable Me” having a bad hair day. And looking a little green.
First, after reading your reply to Chris I have to say that I am amazed that you bought a camera without first holding it in your hands. I just cannot imagine ever doing that. The feel of a camera in my hand is everything. Much more important than the spec sheet. Still, you seem happy with your choice and I have to say that I like how the Fuji cameras feel. They all have the “fun” factor I look for in a camera.
As for EVFs, I do like them though I’m equally happy with a regular viewfinder. These days I tend to shoot more and more from waist level with the screen tilted up. Something I never thought I would ever do having been such an advocate of viewfinders to the point of being down on certain camera models for not having a viewfinder at all. As they say, never say never.
Monte Stevens
Yes, I did take a leap of faith from all the positive feedback on the camera. Since I’ve never used a rangefinder style camera I knew it would feel different anyway. I’m still getting use to it but that fun factor is playing a part of that.
I would use the tilt LCD on my G12 at times but mostly for low angle shots. The X-E1 does not have a swivel LCD. One of the display options is to use the eye sensor. So when I raise the camera up the back of the LCD turns off. I like having the option for both.